Window cleaning device



July 15, 1941. M. n LMAN WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE Filed Nov. 20, 1940 Arm/@Nif Patented July 15, 1941 UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE Martin Illman, Edgemere, N. Y.

Application November 20, 1940, Serial No. 366,331

' (ci. is-zzo) 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to window cleaning devices and aims primarily to provide an improved device whereby both surfaces of the window glass may be cleaned from inside the room, thus eliminating the necessity for a person to sit or stand on the outside window sill or even to reach outin order to clean the windows on the outside. The many advantages of an eftlcient and practical device for the said purpose are readily apparent.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device such as mentioned whereby substantially similar window cleaning members on both the inside and the outside surfaces are moved synchronously in contact with the glass surfaces by moving of but the inside member by the operator, the device being further so constructed that the cleaning members may be moved synchronously in any direction so that all corners and edges may be cleaned.

Still another object is to provide means whereby water may be readily pumped onto the cleaning members as and when desired, thus eliminating the necessity for removing them to dip them into a pail of water.

A further object is the provision of means whereby each cleaning member has on one side a brush or sponge for wetting the glass and on the other side a cloth for drying the same, and

the invention to the exact details of construc-` tion as shown.

Referring brieily to the drawing, Figure 1 is rear elevational-view of the device, looking in the direction of the arrows I-I of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device, partly in section.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral I indicates the iront window sash and II the rear or outer window sash. The glass of the former is shown at I2 and that of the latter at I3. The inner surface of the glass I2 is shown at I4 and the outer surface at I5.

The device comprises a U-shaped clamp I6 adapted to embrace the lower frame member of the sash, and adapted to be firmly secured thereto by means of wing nuts or screws I1. Of course any other suitable type or kind of clamping means may be used. Aligned pivot pins I8 and I8 are provided in the opposed walls 0i the clamp, and rigid and rotatable with these pins are guide heads and 2|, respectively. Each dicated at 32.

head 28 and 2l has a pair of opposed parallel longitudinal grooves 22 in its sides.

A yoke 23 has a pair ofarms 24 equal in length, each provided with a longitudinal slot 25 whose opposed parallel sides register in the grooves 22 of the guide heads 20 and 2|.v It is apparent from the structure thus far set forth, that universal synchronous movement of the two arms 24 is attained when either of the arms is moved, in a plane parallel with that of the glass.

The yoke 23 is made of resilient material so as to cause the arms 24 normally to be urged together. A right-angled bracket 26 is pivoted to the upper end of the arm 24 on'the inner side of the device, and a substantially similar, butlonger in a downward direction, bracket 21 is similarly pivoted to the outer arm 24. The elongation or ear 28 on the bracket 21 is restrained in its swinging movement by longitudinal lips 23 on the sides of the latter arm. A substantially U-shaped ilat spring 30 is seated on the horizontal portion of the bracket 3|, or ledge, which extends inward from the latter arm, beneath the horizontal portion of the bracket 21 which is in- The ledge 32 is elongated laterally and forms the lower member of a U-shaped frame 33 having opposed pivot pins 34 in its upper extremities. -Pivotally mounted on the pins 34 is a rectangular frame 35 having a. cleaning member or unit secured therein consisting of a brush or sponge 36 on one side and a cloth or wiper 31 on the other, both of the latter bulging out of the frame 35. Indents 38 are formed on opposed upper and lower sides of the frame 35, either of which is adapted to be resiliently and releasably engaged by the peaked bend 39 of a spring member 40 secured to the ,bracket 21. The ends of the spring 38 press against the ledge 32 and tend to restore it to the position shown, at right angles to its arm 24, after it has been twisted out of that position during the cleaning operation as will presently be set forth.

The horizontal portion 4I of the bracket 26 on the inner arm 24, forms the lower portion of a similar U-shaped frame 42 having similar pivot pins 43 in its upper extremities, and a similar cleaner unit frame 44 is supported in the said pins. The frame 44 similarly holds a brush or sponge 45 on one side and a cloth or wiper on the other. The opposite upper and lower members of the frame 44 are likewise provided -with indents 41 adapted to be selectively engaged and yieldably retained in the peaked spring 48 secured to the bracket 25.

It is apparent that, with the device applied to a window as shown in the drawing, guiding the cleaning unit in the frame 44 in a .to and fro and up and down movement as one would guide a cloth or sponge in cleaning a window, the unit in the frame 35 will follow exactly the same course against the outer surface of the window, and both sides of the glass will thus be simultaneously sponged or wetted. The pivotal connection of the frame 33 on the yoke arm will permit it to swing synchronously with the swinging of the frame l2 as the latter is guided by hand along the window edges or into corners, and the spring 30 will always restore the frame 33 to the normal position shown when it. is free of the window edges. The lips 29 prevent the frame 33 from swinging too far so that the spring 3l can always restore it to its normal position. Windows are usually cleaned starting at the top and working downward, and as the inner frame l2 is moved downward the outer frame I3 will simultaneously do likewise, as is obvious. When both frames have finished the last sidewise movement along the lower window edge, both frames M and 35 are rotated 180 degrees to bring the cloth or wiper elements against the glass, and the wiping is then done in the same manner.

As an added improvement, the following means may be provided for supplying water to the sponges 38 and 46. A pipe or tube I9 having perforations therethrough is secured to the frame 33, and a similar pipe 1s secured to the frame I2, as shown. Flexible tubes 50 lead down from the pipes 49 and are attached by clamps or the like Il to the arms 24. The lower ends of the tubes 50 lead into pails of water, not shown, and intermediate their lengths the tubes 50 are provided with rubber ball spray pumps 52 of standard construction, such as are used in common medicinal sprays. By squeezing the ball 52 water may be raised from the pail onto the sponge, thus obviating the necessity of removing the sponge in order to wet it.

It is apparent from the above that a practical, sturdy, and efficient device has been provided for the purposes set forth. Obviously, modifications in form and structure may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. A window cleaning device comprising a.

clamp having means for securing the same to a window sash, the jaws of said clamp extending vertically along opposite sides of said sash, axially aligned pivoted members secured to said jaws, each of said members having opposed parallel grooves in their longitudinal edges, a yoke having longitudinally slotted arms extending above said sash on opposite sides of the window glass, the opposed edges of the slot in each of said arms registering slidably in said grooves oi.' said member on the same side of the glass as said arm, substantially U-shaped frames pivotally mounted on the extremities of said arms, cleaner units pivotally mounted in said U-shaped frames, and resilient means on one of said arms engaging said frame on said arm for normally positioning said frame in axial alignment with said arm and for restoring said frame to said position.

2. A window cleaning device comprising a member adapted to be releasably attached to a window sash, a yoke slidably and pivotally mounted on said member and having its arms extending over opposite sides of the window glass, and cleaner members pivotally mounted on the extremities of said yoke, one of said arms having resilient means for normally positioning its said cleaner member in axial alignment with its said arm.

3. A window cleaning device comprising a yoke having a Deir of arms equal in length formed of resilient material and normally urged toward each other, means for pivotally and slidably attaching said yoke to a window sash, each of said arms having a cleaner unit pivotally mounted on its end on an axis at right angles to said sash, said arms extending on opposite sides of the window glass and said cleaner units being urged by said arms against the surfaces of said glass, said cleaner units each comprising a U-shaped frame having a substantially rectangular frame pivotally mounted in the ends thereof, means partly on said U-shaped frame and partly on opposite sides of said rectangular frame for yieldably locking said rectangular frame to said U-shaped frame in either of two positions degrees apart, each of said rectangular frames having a sponge or the like protruding from one face thereof and a cloth or the like protruding from the opposite face thereof.

4. A window cleaning device comprising a member adapted to be releasably attached to a window sash, a yoke slidably and pivotally mounted on said member and having its arms extending over' opposite sides of the window glass, cleaner members pivotally mounted on the extremities of said arms on axes parallel with the axis of the pivotal mounting of said yoke, said cleaner members being rectangular in outline and normally mutually parallel, and resilient means mounted between one of said arms and one edge of its said cleaner member for normally positioning its said cleaner member with said edge thereof at right angles to its said arm.

5. A window cleaning device comprising a member adapted to be releasably attached to a window, said member having a headed pin projecting therefrom, a yoke having a longitudinal slot in one of its arms, said pin registering in said slot and permitting longitudinal sliding of said arm and swinging thereof about said pin, and cleaner members mounted on the extremity of said yoke.

6. A window cleaning device comprising a member adapted to be releasably attached to a window, said member having a headed pin projecting therefrom, a yoke having a longitudinal slot in one of its arms, said pin registering in said slot and permitting longitudinal sliding of said arm and swinging thereof about said pin, and cleaner members mounted on the extremity of said yoke, one of said arms having resilient means normally positioning its said cleaner member in axial alignment with its said arm.

MARTIN ILLMAN. 

